I don't often make it up to North London, but as Profile Coffee has been on my to-visit list for an age, it was high time I paid a visit to the Highbury specialty coffee shop. With welcoming and knowledgeable baristas serving exceptional coffee in a beautiful, calming space, Profile was well worth the wait.
Located on Highbury Park, Profile has a distinctive coral storefront. It's a short walk through Highbury Fields from Highbury & Islington station; Arsenal Tube station is also nearby. When I arrived on a chilly Sunday morning, there was standing-room only at Profile. This just gave me more time to choose which coffee to order from the varied and tempting menu.
Profile features an extremely well-curated selection of coffees from a variety of UK and EU roasters, including La Cabra, Standout and Plot. When I saw the three coffees featured on the hand-brew menu, I was always going to opt for one of them, but choosing was quite hard. In the end, I went for the naturally processed Gesha coffee from Elida Estate in Panama, roasted by La Cabra and with juicy peach and tropical fruit notes.
I took a seat at the large table by the window, where a spot had just opened up for me. A few smaller wooden tables run along the wall opposite the counter, and there's a bench outside — better suited to warmer days. The décor at Profile is lovely: soothing neutral tones with pops of peachy coral and light wood accents. If you want something to read while savouring your coffee, they have a nice selection of (mostly coffee-related) books.
While I waited for my coffee, I tucked into a slice of pumpkin, pineapple and coconut cake, which was moist and tasty, the tropical flavours pairing very well with my coffee. They have a selection of other cakes and pastries on offer too.
I knew how much I was going to enjoy it from the delicious aroma when it arrived. Brewed using the Orea brewer, it tasted as delightful as I was expecting. I also had my first experience of the 2-way Cup, a ceramic cup whose unique shape allows you to sample a coffee in two different ways. I found that I enjoyed the coffee slightly more when drinking through the broader, less steep lip, which enhances aeration.
I didn't try an espresso-based coffee on this occasion, but the cortados and cappuccinos that other customers were drinking (prepared with the house La Cabra espresso) looked impeccably well brewed. And if you can't decide what to order, you might like to check out the tasting flight.
Need to stock up on some coffee beans for home brewing? The sweetie-shop-like shelf near the door has you covered, although deciding which of the many excellent coffees to buy might be a hard task — the friendly baristas are more than happy to provide advice.
Profile Coffee. 1b Highbury Park, London, N5 1QJ (Tube: Arsenal or Highbury & Islington). Website. Instagram.
For 150+ more of my favourite coffee shops in London, check out my London specialty coffee guide.
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